Sixers Seek New Public Address Announcer After Matt Cord's Retirement

10 potential replacements for the longtime Sixers PA voice

Mar. 12, 2026 at 2:21pm

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After 28 years as the Sixers' public address announcer, Matt Cord announced he will be retiring at the end of the current season. The team is now searching for his replacement, with several internal and external candidates being considered, including the Blue Coats' current PA announcer, radio personalities from the team's broadcast partner 97.5 The Fanatic, and even some high-profile superfans.

Why it matters

The Sixers' public address announcer is a key part of the in-game experience at the Wells Fargo Center, with the role requiring a unique blend of energy, enthusiasm, and basketball knowledge to properly hype up the crowd. Cord has been a fixture for nearly three decades, so finding the right replacement will be crucial for maintaining the team's gameday atmosphere.

The details

Cord, who also hosts middays at 93.3 WMMR, announced his retirement earlier this week after 28 seasons as the Sixers' PA announcer. The team is now considering several potential replacements, including internal candidates like Blue Coats PA announcer Matt Strauss, as well as external options from the team's radio partner 97.5 The Fanatic, such as Sean Brace and Ray Dunne. Other outside-the-box possibilities include superfan Richard Harkaway, who went viral for giving Russell Westbrook the double-bird, and longtime season ticket holder "Jose" who is known for his enthusiastic in-game antics.

  • Matt Cord announced his retirement on March 10, 2026.
  • Cord has been the Sixers' PA announcer for the past 28 seasons.

The players

Matt Cord

The longtime public address announcer for the Philadelphia 76ers, who is retiring at the end of the 2025-26 NBA season after 28 years in the role.

Matt Strauss

The current public address announcer for the Delaware Blue Coats, the Sixers' G League affiliate, who is considered an internal candidate to replace Cord.

Sean Brace

A radio personality at 97.5 The Fanatic, the Sixers' radio broadcast partner, who has experience with in-arena hosting for the Philadelphia Wings lacrosse team.

Ray Dunne

Another radio personality at 97.5 The Fanatic who has done public address work for Temple University women's basketball games.

Richard Harkaway

A Sixers superfan who went viral a few years ago for giving Russell Westbrook the double-bird, and is being considered as an outside-the-box replacement for Cord.

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What they’re saying

“When I missed the first free throw, and made the second, I'm running back, and a fan has both of us middle fingers up, and said (fuck you) three times. So then the time out (is called) and I go in the stands to confront him. I say 'don't be disrespectful, I'm a man before anything, and be a fan.' And his response was, 'sorry I just wanted a Frosty.'”

— Richard Harkaway

What’s next

The Sixers organization will hold open auditions and interviews to find the right replacement for Matt Cord, with the goal of having the new public address announcer in place before the start of the 2026-27 NBA season.

The takeaway

Replacing a long-tenured and beloved public address announcer like Matt Cord will be a challenging task for the Sixers, but the team has a number of intriguing internal and external candidates to consider. Whomever they choose, it will be important for the new PA voice to capture the same energy and enthusiasm that Cord brought to the role for nearly three decades.